Dunsmuir, CA to Long Beach, CA is 617.7 miles and takes about 11h 23m via Westside Freeway, Cascade Wonderland Highway, and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $135 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This route covers a significant portion of California, moving from the Pacific Coast region south towards the greater Los Angeles area. It's a long-haul drive, best suited for those who prefer to cover ground efficiently. Given the nearly 11.5-hour estimated travel time, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended to avoid fatigue, even though it's technically possible to complete in one day. This trip is primarily about covering distance on major arteries.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
308.9 miles from Dunsmuir, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
424.9 mi
7h 38m
Cascade Wonderland Highway
82.1 mi
1h 32m
I 5 Truck
58.6 mi
1h 7m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
3m
Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 424.9 mi, about 7h 38m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 626 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,509 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,336
Quietest
2 AM
~329 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 96 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunsmuir, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Sacramento Avenue
0.1 mi·30 sec·Sacramento Avenue
2
Turn right onto Branstetter Street
500 ft·24 sec·Branstetter Street
3
Turn left onto I 5 BUS; US 99 Hist
1.1 mi·1 min·Dunsmuir Avenue
4
Take the ramp onto US 99 Hist
0.2 mi·29 sec·US 99 Hist
Exit 729
5
Merge onto I 5
47 mi·53 min·Cascade Wonderland Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
36 mi·38 min·Cascade Wonderland Highway
7
Continue on I 5
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Westside Freeway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
16 mi·16 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
79 mi·1 hr 27 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
19
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
22
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
23
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
24
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
25
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 11h 23m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is advisable for safety and comfort. Aim to depart Dunsmuir early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially if you plan to push further on day one. With 3 recommended stops, plan for breaks every few hours to stay alert. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly during the long 424.9-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spread out. Budgeting around $135 for fuel is a good starting point for this 617.7-mile drive.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 308.9 miles from Dunsmuir, CA, or about 5h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 424.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 136 miles or 2h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 308.9 miles or 5h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 308.9 miles or 5h 40m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Long Beach, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dunsmuir, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dunsmuir, CA
Aim for roughly 309 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 309 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 136 miles from Dunsmuir, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 424.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 176.6 and 615.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
176.6 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
192.3 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
271.9 mi into trip|~5h in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
570.9 mi into trip|~10h 25m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
7
615.3 mi into trip|~11h 17m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$151.17 one way
$302.33 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg216 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$155.67
$311.33
premium
$6.57
$159.68
$319.36
diesel
$6.18
$150.27
$300.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$151
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$281–$391
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 216.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $65 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
185.3
2
$64.86
$29.65
Efficient EV
154.4
1
$54.05
$24.71
EV Truck/SUV
247.1
3
$86.48
$39.53
Gas CO2
216 kg
EV CO2
72 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Dunsmuir, CA
Afternoon
in Dunsmuir on Monday
Local time
1:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Partly Cloudy
ESE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Afternoon
in Long Beach on Monday
Local time
1:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
11h 23m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$15
near mile 42.6
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 575.1
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 511.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is predominantly a highway cruise, with 86% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on the Westside Freeway, with a single stretch of 424.9 miles on this road. The highway portion will eventually give way to surface streets as you approach your destination in the Los Angeles area. Expect a long period of consistent driving, with fewer opportunities for quick stops on the main highway stretches.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 424.9 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Cascade Wonderland Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 176.6 miles in near I 5 / Westside Freeway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 617.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 176.6 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 192.3 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 271.9 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Long Beach is a large port city in Los Angeles County in Southern California. Long Beach has some nice people-gathering amenities and genuine tourist attractions, such as a world-class aquarium and the Queen Mary floating museum/hotel. Special events are also held in the city like the annual Long Beach Grand Prix (a premier racing event held on city streets) and the annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride event. When compared to other areas like Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and West L.A., Long Beach may not always be at the top of someone's tourist visit to the Los Angeles area, but the city draws its fair share of visitors and has proven it can definitely hold its own.
Top landmarks
•RMS Queen Mary — retired British ocean liner
•Terminal Island — island in Los Angeles County, California, United States
•Aquarium of the Pacific — public aquarium in Long Beach, California
The longest stretch is about 424.9 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 309 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Long Beach, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 176.6 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 192.3 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 271.9 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.4 hours each way, a round trip means 22.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Long Beach, CA before the return drive.
